Diving in the Algarve – Ocean Revival Underwater Park

For an unforgettable experience in the Algarve travel off the coast of Portimão near the small fishing village of Alvor and take a dive under the water at the Ocean Revival Dive Park. The underwater park is unique in the world. Four warships, representatives of the Portuguese Navy Fleet, were sunk in a single location forming now the largest single artificial reef structure in the world with the ideal conditions that allow for diving 300 days of the year. The water temperature is between 16 to 24°C (61 to 75°F) and the waters are generally calm.
The vessels are located in an area free of shipping, at depths of between 16 and 30 metres and with mooring buoys for each ship, thus allowing safe and accessible diving at all certification levels.

Ex-NRP Hermenegildo Capelo, Ocean Revival. Photo by Augusto Salgado

The underwater park have different levels of difficulty – from the simplest to the most technical type. Special entries and corridors were created before sinking allowing divers to explore the ships. There are various itineraries with well-defined routes that allow for a visit with the minimum possible risk.

The Ocean Revival Park is free to access and any person or operator can dive there as long as they are trained. However, the safest way to dive the Ocean Revival is with a centre, club or diving school certified by the Park. In this way, you will be guided during your dive at the Park, visiting the ships in a safe way and getting the very best out of the experience.

For the diving enthusiast Algarve will be a nice surprise. Not only does this stretch of coast offer man made diving delights but also natural ones too. The sandstone cliffs between Lagos and Sagres offer some interesting cavern and cave diving and for underawater photographers the Algarve is home to 20 species of nudibranchs.

The Ocean Revival Underwater Dive Park is a great diving destination, a place where you’ll want to come back again and again.